'You have a friend for life,' Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman told North Korean leader Kim Jong Eun before a crowd of thousands Thursday as they watched players from North Korea and the U.S. face off in Pyongyang, Alex Detrick, a spokesman for the New York-based VICE media company, told The Associated Press.

'You have a friend for life,' Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman told North Korean leader Kim Jong Eun before a crowd of thousands Thursday as they watched players from North Korea and the U.S. face off in Pyongyang, Alex Detrick, a spokesman for the New York-based VICE media company, told The Associated Press.

Dressed in a Mao suit, Mr. Kim laughed and slapped his hands on the table during the game as he sat nearly knee to knee with Mr. Rodman, who wore a dark suit and sunglasses, but still had on his nose rings and other piercings.

Dressed in a Mao suit, Mr. Kim laughed and slapped his hands on the table during the game as he sat nearly knee to knee with Mr. Rodman, who wore a dark suit and sunglasses, but still had on his nose rings and other piercings.

'The crowd was really engaged, laughed at all of the Globetrotters antics, and actually got super loud toward the end as the score got close,' said VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy, center, who suited up for the game in a blue uniform emblazoned with 'United States of America.' 'Most fun I've had in a while.'

'The crowd was really engaged, laughed at all of the Globetrotters antics, and actually got super loud toward the end as the score got close,' said VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy, center, who suited up for the game in a blue uniform emblazoned with 'United States of America.' 'Most fun I've had in a while.'

Mr. Kim, a diehard basketball fan, told the former Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls star that he hoped the visit would break the ice between the U.S. and North Korea, VICE founder Shane Smith said. Here, Mr. Rodman hugged Mr. Kim after the game.

Mr. Kim, a diehard basketball fan, told the former Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls star that he hoped the visit would break the ice between the U.S. and North Korea, VICE founder Shane Smith said. Here, Mr. Rodman hugged Mr. Kim after the game.

The encounter made Mr. Rodman the most high-profile American to meet Mr. Kim since the young North Korean leader took power in December 2011. Here, Mr. Rodman was welcomed by Son Kwang Ho, vice chairman of North Korea's Olympic Committee, after arriving in Pyongyang on Monday.

The encounter made Mr. Rodman the most high-profile American to meet Mr. Kim since the young North Korean leader took power in December 2011. Here, Mr. Rodman was welcomed by Son Kwang Ho, vice chairman of North Korea's Olympic Committee, after arriving in Pyongyang on Monday.

Mr. Rodman posed for a photo in Pyongyang with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy and a production crew to shoot an episode on North Korea for a new weekly HBO series.

Mr. Rodman posed for a photo in Pyongyang with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy and a production crew to shoot an episode on North Korea for a new weekly HBO series.